A Vicious Game by Melissa Blair

Book 3 picks up where Book 2 ended. Gerarda, with the help of Gwyn, rescues Keera from Damien, but the trauma of her captivity lingers. Damien continues to torment Keera by invading her mind, forcing her to relive memories of him murdering the Shades—people Gerarda still believes might be alive. Wracked with guilt and helplessness, Keera spirals into drinking again, pushing everyone away, including Riven. She keeps her struggles secret, but the toll on her is evident as her newfound magic becomes unstable and increasingly dangerous.

Meanwhile, the group works tirelessly to find a way to break the magical seals. Vrail and Gerarda search for answers, while Riven, Killian, and Feron try to reach the self-destructive Keera. Despite their efforts, nothing seems to work until Gerarda takes drastic action. Knowing Keera better than most, Gerarda and Vrail abduct her, bringing her to the location of the first seal. Riven, Syrra, and Nikolai follow, demanding answers, but Keera eventually agrees to try breaking the seal. To everyone’s surprise, it works, reigniting a flicker of hope in her. However, Keera is honest with Gerarda, admitting that rescuing the Shades is likely impossible.

With her magic newly unlocked, Keera begins training her abilities. She discovers she can wield wind, fire, and even lightning, along with her healing gift, making her more powerful than ever. During this time, she mends relationships, including reconciling with Collin, and learns more about her mother through Feron and Nikolai’s mother. Seeking help with Damien’s mindwalking, she turns to Feron, who reminds her that only by conquering her fear of Damien can she truly shut him out.

The group prepares for a journey to the Order to uncover the next seal. On the voyage, glimmers of the old Keera resurface, and the toll of her absence on Riven becomes clear. Upon reaching the Order, they discover that Lady Curringham, Gerarda’s secret lover, has been protecting the Shades and working against Damien in her own way. This earns her Keera’s respect, though one of Damien’s soldiers lights a beacon, alerting him to their presence.

As the group scrambles to evacuate the Shades, Keera and Vrail find the second seal. Under attack from Damien’s forces, Keera uses her magic in battle for the first time, demonstrating her rekindled prowess. Despite the chaos, she successfully breaks the second seal. However, the effort leaves her unconscious.

When Keera awakens, she finds Riven in severe pain—worse than ever before. Realizing the breaking seals are harming him, they disembark to get him medical attention, leaving Keera with the Shades. Back at their base, Keera reunites with Feron and begins addressing her struggles, including her drinking and the invasions of her dreams by Damien. She also starts researching why breaking the seals is affecting Riven so negatively.

Keera and the others, excluding Riven, who remains too weak, set out to break the third seal. Along the way, Keera grows suspicious of the mole’s identity, especially after Elaran (posing as Lady Curringham) raises doubts. Damien learns of their efforts and moves to destroy the final seals. In a climactic battle, Keera breaks the third seal amidst Damien’s forces, who unleash devastating weapons, including violet fire. The fire claims the life of one of their strongest allies, a powerful fire wielder. That night, Damien taunts Keera in her dreams but slips up, revealing he has been manipulating Collin as an unwitting mole through mindwalking.

Keera and Killian form a plan but are ambushed and taken to Damien. He proposes a cruel game: Keera is portaled to a city where she must choose between saving Nikolai’s mother or Riven, each trapped in buildings set to burn. Suspecting Damien’s trickery, she chooses Nikolai’s mother, but finds Collin’s corpse instead, branded as a traitor. Using her wings, she races to the other building and rescues Nikolai’s mother just in time.

Returning to Killian, Keera explains everything, but when Nikolai learns his mother has died, he lashes out, accusing Killian of lies that will cost them dearly. Nikolai forces Killian to reveal the truth: Killian and Riven are the same person. Killian is a glamour used to hide Riven’s identity, and only his closest allies knew the truth. Keera, devastated by yet another secret, struggles to reconcile her feelings for Killian and Riven. After a heartfelt conversation, she accepts him for who he is, deciding to call him Riven no matter the form he takes.

With one seal left, Keera and Riven join forces to break it. Their combined magic succeeds, and the seals are finally down. Though Riven survives, the process transforms him into a halfling, no longer able to hide behind Killian. Keera, now fully embracing her light fae heritage, emerges with golden eyes, ready to face the final battle against Damien.

Thanks https://forthenovellovers.wordpress.com/2024/01/29/major-spoilers-ahead-a-vicious-game-by-melissa-blair-the-halfling-saga-book-3/ for some of the finer details.